CTRP®

THE CHALLENGE

Poor patient retention and medication compliance represent an ongoing challenge in clinical trials. All too often drug administration protocols are confusing for the average clinical trial patient. There are many instructions to follow, and although all may seem clear and easy for the patient at the beginning of the trial, not long afterward, memories grow faint and mistakes are made. Patients become increasingly frustrated and then lose interest in the trial.

These are the primary reasons for high patient dropout rates in clinical trials. In fact, according to reasearch[1] by the Tufts Center for the Study of Drug Development, 49% of all patients randomized into a clinical trial quit before study completion. This causes avoidable delays that cost the study sponsor time and money. More specifically, every day that a study is prolonged can cost a sponsor $37,000 in operational expenses and $1.1 million in lost revenue.

THE SOLUTION

Center Point Clinical Services has developed a unique and effective solution to reverse this trend. This signature, one-of-a-kind solution, is called Clinical Trials Research Pharmacist (CTRP®). CTRP uses only specially trained, licensed pharmacists with expertise in clinical trials, drug issues, and patient counseling, to educate and to communicate with patients. Thus far, CTRP has supported more than 5,000 patients in 27 studies. Patient compliance has increased by nearly 30 percent and patient retention rates in trials have improved by 60 percent or more, with results ranging up to 93 percent retention. [2]

WHY ONLY PHARMACISTS?

Pharmacists are educated and trained to know about medications and their effects on the human body. They are experts on medication dosing, time intervals for drug administration, how to properly store and effectively take medication, or use a device. As such, Center Point leaves it to the experts to implement a patient-centered, tailored approach, designed to optimize patient health and medication outcomes. CTRPs engage patients at important stages of the trial to make sure all is in order according to protocol guidelines. Patients are also encouraged to call the pharmacist 24/7 with questions or concerns. All discussions between CTRPs and patients are documented and shared with the trial team.